Wheeled support for mandrels



Nov. 2, 1954 w. E. KERR WHEELED SUPPORT FOR MANDRELS Filed June 2. 1953 INVENTOR Wal/qce E Kerr 2,693,274 WHEELED surronr FOR MANDRELS W i WallaceE. Kerr, Poland, Ohio imitation me 2, 1953, Serial No. 359,180 I 4 claims. (01. 205 7 This invention relates to a combination mandrel and wheeled support therefor as utilized in a draw bench .andoyer which mandrel and wheeled support tube to be sized in the draw bench is drawn. )The principal object of the invention is the provision of a wheeled'mandrel for use in draw b'ench operationsto enable the'mandrel to be' positioned in a tube to be drawn without marring or scratching the inner Surface of said tube drawing the insertion of said mandrel. e

'A further object of the invention is the provision of a mandrel suitable for use in a draw bench operation and provided withaplurality of circumferentially positioned wheels by means .of which the mandrel may be moved into a tube ,to. be drawn and supported by said wheels during suchspositioning movement.

A still furtherv object ofthe. inventioniis the provision ofia wheeled mandrel .for ,a..,tube'drawing'operation and wherein a mandrel is provided with a plurality of circumferentially positioned wheels, the outer diameter of the plurality of wheels being less than the inner diameter of the tube in which the mandrel is positioned.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a wheeled mandrel for a draw bench operation including a mandrel portion and an adjacent section having a plurality of rollers circumferentially positioned thereabout and circumferentially spaced with respect to one another arranged to support the mandrel in spaced relation from the inner wall of the tube.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a wheeled mandrel for a tube drawing mechanism enabling the mandrel to be positioned in the tube or the tube to be positioned over the mandrel Without scufling the interior surface of the tube.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of an improved mandrel for a draw bench operation in which tubing is drawn to desired size, the im proved mandrel including a mandrel portion, a mandrel rod and said mandrel portion having a wheeled extension for su porting said mandrel portion in spaced relation to the inner wall of a tube positioned thereover and wherein said mandrel rod is provided with a secondary wheel support inwardly of its ends for supporting the intermediate section of said mandrel rod for maintaining the same in substantial axial alignment with said tube.

The wheeled mandrel disclosed herein comprises an improvement in the art of draw bench equipment and more particularly mandrels and mandrel rods as commonly used in draw benches over which tubes are intially positioned and then moved thereover in the actual drawing operation. Heretofore, the procedure has comprised introducing lubricant prior to introducing the mandrel into the tube or, alternately, wrapping a cloth or rag around the mandrel so as to support the mandrel or cushion it to avoid stuffing the interior surface of the tube, practicularly when the tube is formed of soft aluminum or other readily markable metal. Such expedients have not been particularly successful and with the advent of a large apparent demand for large size aluminum tube the problem of avoiding marking the inner surface of the tube has become acute.

The present disclosure accordingly relates to apparatus avoiding the difliculties heretofore experienced.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts 2,693,274 Patented Nov. 2, 1954 and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being the intention to cover all changes and modifications of the example of the invention herein chosen for purposes of the disclosure, which donot constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

- Figure 1 is a vertical section through a section of tube to be drawn showing a wheeled mandrel therein.

Figure 2 is a vertical section taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical section through a portion of tube in die drawing position showing the mandrel in drawing position therein and a mandrel rod supporting device intermediate the ends of the mandrel rod.

By referring to. the drawing and Figures 1 and 2 in particular, it will be seen that a section of tubing 10 is illustrated in which a mandrel 11 is positioned for movement axially thereof, or, alternately over which mandrel 11 the tube ,10 may be moved. The mandrel 11 includes the usual peripheral tubing engaging surface 12 and is supported on one end of a mandrel rod 13.

Immediately adjacent the mandrel 11 and integrally formed therewith, if desired, there is a wheeled support member 14 also positioned on the mandrel rod 13 arid provided with a plurality .of radiallyv extending circumferentially spaced bifurcated bosses" 15. Each vof the bifurcated bosses 15 is provided with an opposed pair of apertures 16 through which axles 17 are positioned to support wheels 18. .Thus, each of; the radiallyextending circumferentially spaced extensions 15 carries one of the wheels 18, it being observed that the wheels are of suitable diameter and the axles 17 located so that one portion of each of the wheels 18 extends beyond the peripheral portion 12 of the mandrel 11 heretofore referred to.

As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings this arrangement of the wheels 18 with respect to the mandrel 11 enables the mandrel 11 to be supported in spaced relation to the inner wall of the tube 10. Each of the wheels 18 may be formed of metal and has a tire of suitable material such as rubber thereon, if desired. Alternately, the entire wheel may be formed of an elastic and/or synthetic resin. In either case the plurality of circumferentially spaced wheels 18 will adequately support the mandrel 11 and the rod 13 with respect to the inner surface of the tube 10 and thereby enable the mandrel to be positioned in the tube or, alternately, the tube to be positioned over the mandrel without marring or in any way adversely effecting the inner surface of the tube. 1

By referring now to Figure 3 of the drawings it will be observed that the tube 10 is shown in die drawing position in a conventional tube drawing die 19, the tube being moved from left to right. as shown in Figure 3. by such apparatus (not shown) as is customary in a draw bench operation. The mandrel 11 is shown in normal position in the tube 10 within the aperture of the die 19 and in such position it will be observed that the wheeled support member 17 and its plurality of circumferentially spaced wheels 18 are held in centermost position in the undrawn portion of the tube 10 with the wheels 18 out of engagement with the inner surface of thetube 10.

It will thereby be seen that the wheeled mandrel is intended to be used to support the mandrel with respect to the inner surface of the tube only during such time ice ' as the tube is positioned on the mandrel or the mandrel in the tube and not during the actual drawing operation.

By referring to the left hand portion of Figure 3 of the drawings it will be observed that the mandrel rod 13 is provided with a secondary wheeled support member 20 which is positioned intermediate the ends of the mandrel rod 13 and which like the wheeled support 14 includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced wheels 21.

It will thus occur to those skilled in the art that a J mandrel rod of considerable length may be provided 3 with the secondary wheeled support member 20 intermediate'the ends of the mandrel rod andthat the same will act to prevent sagging of the mandrel rod and simultaneously support thetube 10 in desirable spaced relationth'ereto thus maintaining; the desirable longitudinal alignment between theman'drellrod 13 and the tube 10at allt-imes.

"In" Figure 3 of the drawings the mandrel rod is shown engaged against a mandrel anchor 22, as known; in the art, and it will occur to those skilled in" the" art that means for securing the wheeled support and secondary Wheeled support member 20 infixed -position='on'the mandrel rod are desirable and maycomprise collars 23 and 24 positioned on the mandrehrod 13 and serve'to lock thewheel supports 14 and 20 theretO.

=It willoccur to those skilled in the art that the mandrel 11 may have-thesupport member '14 -formedintegrally therewith, if -desired; in which event the collar' 23 'will not be required as the means normally securing the mandrel 11 to the'rod 13 will thus secure thewheeled portion thereto'as well) *It'will' thus be seen that the Wheeled mandrel disclos'edherein meetsthe severaljobjec'ts of"the*"in'vention and, 'additionally,' mayjbe' inexpensively formed, readilyapplied' to a mandrel-and mandrel *rod assembly and'used effectively for the intended purpose.

Having thus described my invention, what 1 claim is:

1; A mandrel and mandrel rod for a dr'aw'beneh', said mandrel "having a wheeled support member adiacent thereto, the said wheeled supportfmember 'havingaplurality "of "c'ircumferent'ially 'spaced radially" extending wheels, the over-all diameter of"th'e p1urality of wheels being greater than'the diarn'eter 'ofthe"mandrel; i

' 25A mandrel and'fmaridrelrod; assembly for a draw bench comprising a mandrel-having an extension on the side thereof engaged by said mandrel rod, said extension having a plurality of radially extending circumferentially spaced extensions, each of which is bifurcated, axles positioned transversely of the bifurcated extensions and wheels positioned one on each of said axles, the outermost portion of each of the wheels extending beyond the outermost portion of said mandrel.

3. An improved mandrelfor a draw bench and adapted to be positioned. on a mandrel rod, said mandrel having a metalworking surface and a plurality of extensions at right angles to said metal working surface, said extensions being bifurcated and provided with axles and wheels, the over-alldiameter of. said wheels and extensions being greater than the diameter of the working surface of said mandrel.

4. An improved mandrel for a draw bench, said mandrel arranged to be carried on a mandrel rod and including a peripheral metal working surface, a portion of said mandrel adjacent said metalworking surface having circumferentially"spaced radially positioned slots formed therein, Wheels partially positioned in said slo ts for rotation therein, the portions of the Wheels extending out of'the'slots forming means forsupp'ortin'gsaid metal working surface of said mandrel in spaced relation to a tube in which said mand'rel'is positioned.

References (Iited in the file of this patent UNITED STIfA' IES.PATENTS 

